• Engagement of a leading global contract research organization strengthens the analytical foundation supporting EL-22 and EL-32 as the programs advance toward an IND-enabling development framework
  • Builds on NorthStrive Biosciences’ expanding manufacturing and characterization capabilities behind its engineered probiotic platform targeting muscle preservation, including for patients on GLP-1 weight loss treatments

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Sept. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PMGC Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:ELAB) ("PMGC" or the "Company") today announced that its subsidiary, NorthStrive Biosciences Inc. ("NorthStrive Biosciences" or "NorthStrive"), has executed a Statement of Work ("SOW") with Charles River Laboratories, Inc., NYSE: CRL ("Charles River" or "Charles River Laboratories") to conduct analytical characterization supporting the development of NorthStrive Biosciences’ EL-22 and EL-32 engineered probiotic programs.

Under the SOW, Charles River will perform specialized analytical testing designed to characterize plasmid copy numbers in NorthStrive’s engineered bacterial product candidates. The work includes DNA isolation and preparation followed by gene copy-number analysis using specific nucleic-acid amplification and fluorescent-probe technology. Testing will be performed at Charles River’s U.S. Biologics Testing sites, generating quantitative data on the genetic constructs carried by each product candidate.

The program is intended to strengthen NorthStrive’s understanding and control of key product characteristics as EL-22 and EL-32 progress through development. Establishing reliable analytical methods for the genetic constructs carried by the engineered bacteria is an important component of building a reproducible manufacturing and characterization strategy for future clinical development. The data generated through this work will support product identity, manufacturing consistency, and comparability against previously manufactured material as EL-22 and EL-32 advance toward a more robust IND-enabling development framework.

Charles River Laboratories is a leading global provider of drug discovery, development and manufacturing support services to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies worldwide.